Birth Place: Berlin, GERMANY
Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actor. The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards and an Emmy, in 2015 she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people and received a National Medal of Arts—America’s highest honor for achievement in the field—from President Barack Obama. In addition to her Tony-winning performances in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill—the role that also served as the vehicle for her Olivier Award-nominated 2017 debut in London’s West End—she has appeared on Broadway in The Secret Garden; Marie Christine (Tony nomination); Henry IV; 110 in the Shade (Tony nomination); Shuffle Along, or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed; and Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Tony nomination).
A Juilliard-trained soprano, her opera credits include La voix humaine and Send at Houston Grand Opera, and Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny at Los Angeles Opera, where the resulting recording earned her two Grammy Awards.
On television, she was seen by millions as the Mother Abbess in NBC’s The Sound of Music Live! and played Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC’s Private Practice. She won an Emmy Award for her role as host of PBS’s Live From Lincoln Center and has received nominations for Wit, A Raisin in the Sun and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Having first appeared as Liz Lawrence on CBS’s The Good Wife, she stars in The Good Fight on Paramount+ as well as in Spectrum’s pandemic-themed drama, The Bite.
On film, she has appeared in Seven Servants, The Object of My Affection, Cradle Will Rock, It Runs in the Family, The Best Thief in the World, She Got Problems, Rampart, Ricki and the Flash, Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast, the movie-musical Hello Again, and MGM’s Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect.
Her upcoming film projects comprise Higher Ground’s Rustin and FilmNation’s Down Low. McDonald has issued five solo albums on the Nonesuch label as well as Sing Happy with the New York Philharmonic on Decca Gold. She also maintains a major career as a concert artist, regularly appearing on the great stages of the world and with leading international orchestras. A founding member of Black Theatre United, board member of Covenant House International, and prominent advocate for LGBTQAI+ rights, her favorite roles are those performed offstage, as an activist, wife to actor Will Swenson, and mother.
From: Photo Coverage: A Look Back on the Most Memorable Performances of 2019
From: FREEZE FRAME: Meet the Company of FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE
From: Photo Flash: Bernadette Peters, Kristin Chenoweth, and More Honor Craig Zadan and Neil Meron
From: Photo Flash: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Cast Hit Red Carpet for World Premiere
From: Photo Coverage: The SHUFFLE ALONG Cast Takes Opening Night Bows!
Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders
Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders
Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders
Audra McDonald, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
Audra McDonald, Lady Day At Emerson's Bar & Grill
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at emerson's Bar & Grill
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
Audra McDonald, Porgy and Bess
Audra McDonald, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Audra McDonald, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Audra McDonald, Porgy and Bess
Audra McDonald, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Audra McDonald, 11 in the Shad
Audra McDonald, 11 in the Shade
Audra McDonald, 11 in the Shade
Audra McDonald, A Raisin In The Sun
Audra McDonald, A Raisin in the Sun
Audra McDonald , A Raisin in the Sun
Audra McDonald, A Raisin in the Sun
Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald, Marie Christine
Audra McDonald, Marie Christine
Audra McDonaldRagtime
Audra McDonald, Ragtime
Audra McDonald, Master Class
Join Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald, and nominees Will Swenson and Norm Lewis for The Janice Jam: Broadway for Breast Cancer, a star-studded event raising awareness and support for the cause.
Established by theatrical producer Barbara Whitman in 2021, this award recognizes a woman, trans, or non-binary director who has developed a clear and distinctive artistic voice and demonstrated unique vision in their theatrical work.
The Original Broadway Cast Album of Gutenberg! The Musical! featuring GRAMMY Award winners and Tony Award nominees Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells will be released in May.
Jason Alexander and more will be starring in Fiddler on the Roof at La Mirada Theatre. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.
The Novello Orchestra will present two classic Disney films in concert this summer, Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book will be performed live to film as part of Wimbledon Childrens Festival. Beauty and the Beast will take place on 10th August, with showings at 3pm and 7pm and The Jungle Book the following day on the 11th August, with showings at 10am and 3pm.
For opera lovers around the world, Maria Callas was a gigantic figure well known for her unusual and daring performances. She was a singer who ruled the classical musical world for a large part of the 20th century and left an indelible mark with her talent and her larger-than-life personality.
The 42-track live recording of My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert will be released on double CD and digital platforms worldwide on Friday, May 31 from Concord Theatricals Recordings.
Zecher is a much-loved member of New York’s cabaret community, and the community came out in droves to show their support for her latest cabaret – this time sharing the stage with her handsome musical director son, Joshua!
Six-time Tony Award Winner Audra McDonald will return to Provincetown with SiriusXM Radio star Seth Rudetsky as music director and host, this Memorial Day Weekend. Learn how to purchase tickets!
The 92nd Street Y, New York will present triple Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown in a one-night-only Lyrics & Lyricists event on Thursday, May 9 at 7:30 pm. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Don't Miss an Orchestral Version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street!
The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) has named conductor and composer Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) as the institution's Distinguished Professor of Music. To celebrate MTT’s artistic achievements in the year of his 80th birthday, SFCM's allied record label PENTATONE will release a box set collection of 18 MTT compositions in the fall of 2024.
Playthings Theatre of New York and executive producer Preston Ridge will present private industry readings (by invitation only) of Dorian’s Wild(e) Affair. Learn more about the show.
Join Ensemble Theatre Company for the opening night of THE LEHMAN TRILOGY, adapted by Ben Power and directed by Oahn Nguyen, on April 6 at New Vic Theatre, Santa Barbara.
We feel 'Younger Than Springtime' after seeing Aaron Tveit sing the classic song from Oscar Hammerstein's South Pacific during the star-studded event, My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert, which is now available for on-demand streaming in North America through March 31.
On April 29, 2024, Signature Theatre will honor icon of stage and screen Nathan Lane with the company’s thirteenth Stephen Sondheim Award. Learn more!
Imelda Staunton has confirmed that a final Downton Abbey film is in the works. Written by Julian Fellowes – who wrote the book for musicals like Mary Poppins and School of Rock – Downton Abbey has starred Harry Hadden-Paton, Elizabeth McGovern, Brendan Coyle, Dan Stevens, Maggie Smith, Dominic West, and more.
The honorees have been revealed for the WP Theater 2024 Annual Gala, which include Sutton Foster, LaChanze, and Anne Quart. The event will be hosted by Eden Espinosa at The Edison Ballroom on Monday, May 20, 2024.
New York Theatre Workshop hosted its 2024 Gala, honoring theater and film visionary Liesl Tommy. The evening’s program was hosted by Nicole Ari Parker, directed by Kevin Cahoon, and feature musical direction by Rick Hip-Flores.
Performances begin tonight, March 19, at the Longacre Theatre for Lempicka, the new musical celebrating the true story of renowned artist Tamara de Lempicka. Meet the cast of Lempicka here!
Audra McDonald's next show will be Ohio State Murders which opens on 12/8/2022 on Broadway.
Audra McDonald has appeared on Broadway in 17 shows.
Audra McDonald has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
Audra McDonald's first West End show was Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill which opened in 2017
Audra McDonald has been nominated for various awards throughout her career, including Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for "Ohio State Murders," Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same production, and Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for "Ohio State Murders." She has also received nominations for her roles in "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune," "Lady Day At Emerson's Bar & Grill," "Porgy and Bess," "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess," "110 in the Shade," "A Raisin In The Sun," "Marie Christine," "Ragtime," and "Master Class." Additionally, she has been recognized with awards like the Olivier Awards for "Lady Day At Emerson's Bar & Grill" and BroadwayWorld Awards for "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill," "Porgy and Bess," and "A Raisin In The Sun."
Audra McDonald has won numerous awards for her performances on Broadway. Some of her notable wins include Best Leading Actress in a Play at the BroadwayWorld Awards and Outstanding Actress in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill." She also won Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for the same production. McDonald's accolades extend to musicals as well, with wins such as Best Leading Actress in a Musical at the BroadwayWorld Awards for "Porgy and Bess" and Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess." Her talent has been recognized across various award ceremonies, showcasing her versatility and skill in both plays and musicals on Broadway.
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